High Country Advisory Group members appointed

Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has today announced the new members of its High Country Advisory Group. 

LINZ sought expressions of interest from a wide range of stakeholders earlier this year, after previous members reached the end of their two-year term.

LINZ Acting Chief Executive Richard Hawke says LINZ was pleased with the level of interest received and excited to announce the members for term three. 

Three new members were appointed to the group – Dr Ben Payne, Nicola Snoyink and Corina Jordan.

Previous members Tom Pinckney, Kerry Harmer, Donna Field, Shay Schlaepfer and Matthew Tayler were reappointed to continue sharing their knowledge and provide continuity. 

Matthew Matahaere will continue as a representative for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, who hold a permanent position on the group. 

“It was important for us to have a diverse range of representatives, including iwi, environmental experts and farmers on the group. Everyone brings a unique perspective and expertise to the table that will help inform our management of Crown pastoral land in the iconic South Island high country,” says Dr Hawke. 

The group will have its first meeting in early July. 

LINZ established the group in 2018 to receive advice directly from a range of farming, environmental, iwi and other experts on its management of 1.2 million hectares of Crown pastoral land in the South Island high country. 

Additional background information on HCAG members

New members:

Dr Ben Payne is a researcher and consultant with an extensive background in climate change, carbon reduction strategy, disaster risk reduction and resilience, and sustainable development. He comes from a rural background and completed a PhD on “The Contested Place of Tenure Review in New Zealand's High Country". 

Nicola Snoyink is the regional conservation manager for Forest & Bird in Canterbury/West Coast. She has an extensive background in conservation advocacy and resource management in central and local government.

Corina Jordan is the Chief Executive of Fish & Game. She has an extensive background in resource management and creating frameworks for the sustainable management of land and water resources within environmental limits.

Returning members:

Tom Pinckney is the part owner of Northburn Station in Central Otago, which includes the Leaning Rock pastoral lease. He has a wide range of experience in high country farming, viticulture, and tourism. His property produces wool for Icebreaker and Allbirds, and he has a winemaking operation.

Kerry Harmer farms Castleridge Station in the Ashburton Gorge. She was a member of Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Farmer Council and Environment Reference Group and represented the Mid-Canterbury and high country branches of Federated Farmers. She has 30 years’ experience as a farm consultant and is a committee member of the Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective.

Donna Field farms Cleardale Station in inland Canterbury, a sheep and cattle farm. She is also a land management and biodiversity advisor with Environment Canterbury (ECan) and the chair for the Remarkables Station National Trust – a wholly owned subsidiary of the QEII National Trust. 

Shay Schlaepfer is the Chief Operating Officer of the Environmental Defence Society (EDS). She is a resource management lawyer with extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of the laws affecting Crown pastoral lease land.

Matthew Tayler farms Lorne Peak Station near Garston in Southland. He is a member of Beef +Lamb New Zealand’s Southern South Island Farmer Council and its Farmer Research Advisory Group. He is also the Southland Federated Farmers high country representative.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representative

Matthew Matahaere is the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Te Kāika, which provides high-quality, low-cost healthcare and social services for all Māori, Pasifika and low-income communities across the Otago region. 

Department of Conservation representative

Jo Macpherson is the Director Regional Operations Eastern South Island for the Department of Conservation (DOC). She has nearly 40 years’ experience in conservation management. She also has a background in tourism and a degree in resource studies.